jao@valid.UUCP (John Oswalt) (01/30/86)
Once upon a time (about 15 years ago) I read a story which I have
been trying ever since to find again. It was pecularly constructed, so as
to have a suprise beginning.
It was in three parts: the first part was prefaced by "This is the
end of the story"; the second by "This in the middle of the story"; the third
by "This is the beginning of the story." It was about novelette length. I
think it had robots in it.
Somehow I have the notion in my mind that it was written by
Henry Kuttner (possibly writing as Lewis Padgett), but I have searched
my Kuttner collection (which is extensive but not complete) and failed
to find it.
Can any of you netlanders help me? advaTHANKSnce
--
John Oswalt (..!{hplabs,amd,pyramid,ihnp4}!pesnta!valid!jao)daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards) (02/06/86)
In article <82@valid.UUCP> jao@valid.UUCP (John Oswalt) writes: > > Once upon a time (about 15 years ago) I read a story which I have >been trying ever since to find again. It was pecularly constructed, so as >to have a suprise beginning. > It was in three parts: the first part was prefaced by "This is the >end of the story"; the second by "This in the middle of the story"; the third >by "This is the beginning of the story." It was about novelette length. I >think it had robots in it. > Somehow I have the notion in my mind that it was written by >Henry Kuttner (possibly writing as Lewis Padgett), but I have searched >my Kuttner collection (which is extensive but not complete) and failed >to find it. > Can any of you netlanders help me? advaTHANKSnce > > >-- >John Oswalt (..!{hplabs,amd,pyramid,ihnp4}!pesnta!valid!jao) I don't know if this story was ever printed in a book, but it certainly sounds like a story appearing on "Love, American Style" about that period of time ago. As I recall, the story was prefaced by an announcement that it would be in 3 parts, presented out of order. It took place in an apartment or hotel room, and involved a doctor that was conducting an experiment with a female subject (meeting a guy, or something). The doctor was in a back room and observed what happened through one-way glass. I don't remember whether the experiment was a success, but the final surprise was when the 'beginning' was shown at the end to reveal the doctor putting the final touches to a female robot he had just made. (shown with a panel open with wires hanging out, etc, like Hymie on "Get Smart"). This is pretty hazy, but I think the robot was supposed to be 'The perfect companion to man' or something equally hackneyed. Any Help? Dave (let me know beforehand so I can adjust the chair) Richards